Laundry method and bag



Sept. 2, 1947. R. A. PHAIR ET AL LAUNDRY METHOD AND. BAG

Filed May l, 1941 .lNvENToR Y HoafrAP/M/R mamfAscw/mrf/vas/PG ATTORNEY Patente-cl Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY METHOD AND BAG Robert A. Phair, Allendale, N. J., and William A. Schnakenberg, Hollis, N. Y., assignors to H. Kohnstamm & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,292

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and improved methods and means for washing and laundering clothes and the like, and more particularly the invention is for use in commercial laundries. The invention especially relates to a new laundry method and bag which facilitates the washing of clothes or other articles in classified lots on a more economical basis than present-day conventional practice and prevents the laundry work of a customer from becoming separated and scattered during the laundry process.

In commercial laundries, it is the usual or conventional practice to classify a customers soiled laundry into several groups or classes of work (say three classes, more or less) in accordance withsuch conditions as the amount of washing required for each particular article or piece of work, the type r kind of textile weave or material and the texture thereof, such as natural textile fibers or synthetic textile fibers, etc., as well as the color thereof, whereupon each classied lot or group of work of a customer is placed in net bags, one bag for each class of said customers work, and all the bags containing like classes of all customers work are then placed in a washing machine having a washing liquid or `ath' formula mix especially graded in strength Y i prepared for that particular class of work ,ging up the load or run for that washing machine.

Accordingly, present-day standards mean that the laundryman or superintendent must operate .one or more washing machines for that collective lot of various customers work representing each classification. Therefore, the number of washers in operation, with their respective washing liquids graded and prepared under a preselected formula for each class of soiled work, must at least equal the number of work classes a particular laundry adopts for its routine washing, say three classes, more or less, which means at least that many or more washers are in actual operation. Such a number of washers is required irrespective of the volume of work on hand. Other- 2 washing liquid or bath mix formula prepared in each washing machine for the particular class of work processed by that machine.

Conventional laundry washing also includes the use of standard type net bags without regard for the size mesh netting or porosity thereof, with th'e result that classification of the work into the bags is not made so as to conform the amount of washing required, for a particular work class, with the grade mesh or porosity of the net bags. This means that a classification of work comprising say dark color pieces requiring less washing nevertheless may be subjected to the same volume of water flow through the net bag and hence the same amount of Washing as other work classes which in fact actually require maximum washing. Therefore, present practice results in over-washing and underwashing, a problem dealt with and sought to be solved by this invention.

Furthermore, the conventional classication practice is based upon the use of separate net bags which results in separating the several classes of a customers laundry in order that same may be washed in the respective machines. thereby causing likely loss of some portion of a customers laundry as well as requiring the further labor of subsequent handling and reassembling of the work from the several Washing machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a new laundering method employing the usual work classication to which a commercial laundry is conveniently accustomed but characterized by washing several work classes in the same washing machine with one bath mix formula. Thus one Y washing liquid batch or bath is used for the several classifications of work. Consequently, there is a saving in labor, washing machine capacity, washing materials such as hot and cold water and ingredients used in preparing the bath mix, and likewise a saving of power and heat in the operation of a commercial laundry by following the principles of this invention.

Likewise, it is an object of the invention to provide a new laundry process or method, involving the use of pre-selected bags or other forms of containers having graded or graduated size porosity adapted and proportioned in said porosity size to the respective work classes, which results in the correct and approved amount of washing because the circulation and ow of washing liquid or both mix formula is proportioned to a given work class in order that over-washing or underwashingmay be avoided. This plan is new in the art and provides a new result.

A further object of this invention is to produce a new multiple-unit net bag means or member compartmented into a combination of a plurality of pockets or receptacles of graded or graduatedsize porosities or mesh-size openings for use in not only practicing the method of this invention but also for the purpose of keeping all or some of a customersclassied workYZ toetlier"'-irr: one lot as a-u`niirinE a singl'rombinatio bag member, thus rendering unnecessary the subsequent assembly of the customers work.

With the foregoing and other objects, in view, the invention has relation to the discovery' and appreciation and hence the recognition-:cicertain problems having to dofwiththelaundering of soiled work and the provision ofa'fnwf rhetl'lodY portion the strength or cleansing power of his Washing liquid or bath mix formula in a machine in accordance with the class of work in the respective bags placed in that machine. In present- 5 day practice, all the bags are either of uniform porosity or at least are not pre-selected, with `mesi-i s-izes`are indiscriminately usd; irrespective of the difference in work classes` Accordingly, if a commercial laundry has a .lightdays run, without enough bags l containing "c'liie're'ntclasses of laundry work requiring difffe'rent';de'greesof"washing to provide capacity ''.'lolds'--inlasmany:machines as there are work 5515 classes,fthilaundryman nevertheless has to operfor :of: indiscriminate for z'lmixed lfsize 1 imesh; A asis v.noW-:iised-r iniielaundries. i Therefore; iun'der this .new-fmethody; the ilauridr'yman ffpla'ces 'the .'.work .class yofrwhitesoiled pieces:E (such .las Whiteshirts,

'bag lfof flargefzor 1/f9; i inch? porosity ;f the" soiled Workicla-ss of -printedematerialsan'd dyeLfast work .is placed in bagl 2 offmediimfor 'liilinchflmesm and yanother; or thirdy iclassrf off'work'f comprising 45 Fdarlcs'colors auch .asfsockseandfcolored:dressesuis placedfin'bag S'fof Vsmall:mesh:oriaboutql' inch porosity.

i 'Ihelrnetebagsshown xvin Figure 1 lare 'standardor conventional bag'sofl the fkind =now in general-'use `50 in commercial laundries. In fact, the threfbigs :shownare merely' examples of one serieso'f `meshsizeaopenings .now inluse. ava'rietyof'meshsizes xia'riaist'o'cked'by suppliers: landflavailablei to'llaunfdries. s Thus" iti` isl toifbe understood `that 'Figure 1 55 -notaonly is'fpresented vmerely as Alan-2 fexain'ple, somethingfrom" 'which .toi7 explain' thefprinciples iof invention-,vbutnlkewise the linvention 'may #be ,"practicedfvvitircmore 1. than tthree* bags ;f fany number are i contemplatedw :depending liupori the .60 numberioffiworlr'-.classes7 a :given:L laundry'v has :estabiished for its-li`ne of customer service. v*Breakingtheisoiled Workdowriintfour classe'sds 'good .practiceolloWed' .by"l some: laundriesfbut three vclasses are-*sufficient afore thet'purpose off-disclos- 65 ing thisiin'vention.

laundry work. This avoids over-washing duces'we'ar on the work.

With the foregoing in mind, it will be seen that net bag I of large mesh admits of a larger volume of water flow through it than through the net bag 2 of smaller porosity, Likewise, the net bag 2 permits a greater water flow and hence more Washing of its contents than bag 3 of minimum or small porosity. Consequently, the porosity of the respective bag netting automatically regulates the amount of water flow and washing of the laundry therein, which is to say that this new method, among other things, relates to classifying the work according to bag porosity.

The bags of classified soiled laundry are now thrown into one washing machine, tu-mbled and washed by agitation therein as usual, with the result that the graduated porosity automatically regulates or proportions the amount of water circulation and flow through and agitation within the bags. Consequently, the diierent work classes heretofore requiring separate bath mix formula now mai7 all be washed in one standard bath mix. This is true, although the bath mix formula for the soiled work in bag I is too strong or drastic in its cleansing power for thesoiled work in bags 2 and 3, nevertheless the latter two bags of work withstand the washing process in the stronger mix and are not over-washed, since there is a reduced flow of washing liquid thro-ugh said bags 2 and 3 due to their restricted porosity. The

and re- I'maximum and minimum porosity proportion the liquid ow through the bags in relation to the amount of washing required,

So much for the method features of the invention which may be practiced with standard type separate laundry bags (Figure 1) by adapting them to the new principles of use as explained. An explanation will now be given of the new bag member (Figure 2) also for use in carrying out the foregoing method and serving a purpose in addition thereto.

In Figure 2, there is shown a multiple-unit bag vconstruction comprising net bag pockets or compartments 5, 6 and 'I of graduated-size mesh, as for example 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch, and inch, the same as the detached bags in Figure 1. These net bag pockets, if originally made in separate parts (Figure 1), are joined along their edges, as indicated at 8 and 9, in any appropriate manner, in substantially the same plane in order to spread out the compartments and present the entire area thereof to the washing liquid. They can be knitted together integrally or sewed together by a tape or other means. to form the multipleunit bag means or single bag member (Figure 2).

As shown in Figure 2, the multi-unit bag or laundry container has. its several bag parts 5, 6, 1, etc., made of equal depth in order that their upper and lower edges be arranged approximately in the same plane or on a line even with each other for convenience in handling inside or outside the washing machines.

These laundry net bags (Figures 1 and 2) may be made of textile material or molded rubber or other suitable material. The multiple-unit bag (Figure 2) is new and hence no-t standard at this time with laundry suppliers. The bags and compartments vary in size, the larger mesh bag being larger overall than the medium-size mesh and so on. This overall size and progressive mesh relation has attained its present standard by reason of the size of the average family bundle sent to the laundry, the breakdown classes of which approximate the available bag sizes and admit of a certain amount of tumbling and free-i dom 'of the work in the bags in order that theV requisite agitation may take place in the washing machine. The net bags (Figures 1 and 2) are open at .the top and may be closed by a draw cord or safety pin in the usual way.

It will be understood from the foregoing explanation, that usually the larger dimension bag I and its counterpart or compartment 5 are made of large-size mesh netting, followed by a reduced-size mesh for the smaller dimension bag'Z and compartment 6, while bag 3 and compartment I are still of smaller overall size with minimumsize mesh material.

These mesh sizes in the separated or loose bags (Figure 1) as well as the joined or combination bags (Figure 2) are merely suggestive ofuseful examples and are some of the standardsizenets now used in laundries where the bags are entirely separate or loose and, under present practice, are distributed to various washing machines having the requisite .bath formula according to the classification of work in the respective bags. However, in present-day practice the laundry merely uses net bags of one size porosity and makes no elort to classify the work in relation to net bag porosity by which to proportion and regulate the water flow through the bags, a new feature and mode of use which our quest has .discovered and maybe put into practice attended by many advantages.

The laundry classiiications for the new multiunit or combination bag (Figure 2) is the same as for the separate or conventional loose bags (Figure l). The white soiled Work (such as white shirts, white underwear, and white ilatwork) is placed in the large-mesh compartment 5, while dyed or printed material of fast color is placed in compartment 6, and dark colored work such as socks and colored dresses and the like is placed in compartment 1.

The advantage of using the multiple-unit bag means 5, 6, 'I is that all or much of the work of each customer is kept together as a unit `or in one lot during the washing operation. On the other hand, the new method when practiced with the separate or loose bags (Figure 1) means that a customers several bags tumble and become scattered in the washer and must be located and brought together after the washer is opened and the loose bags removed. The invention affords a choice, as between the use of the conventional separate bags (Figure l) and the multi-unit bag (Figure 2), both plans embodying the new idea of accommodating or adapting the known classification of work to a pre-selected mesh-size bag to attain the new results and economies herein disclosed.

Usually, the smaller separate bag 3, likewise the compartment 'I as its counterpart in the combination bag means, is made of dark color or [black material instead of white, in order to prevent the depositing or shedding of a contrasting white lint therefrom onto the dark colored articles of laundry contained therein. The larger bags I and 2, also 5 and 6, are usually made of white material.

The net bagging surrounding any fugitive colors, as for example, the bag 2 or 3, as well as the bag compartment 6 or 1, which may contain colored work, acts to absorb any possible free dye or running color and prevent it from reaching the other bag I or compartment 5 containing the white .work or passing out into the washing machine. In other words, the ine-mesh porous age-eases netting V'3: andi .retains-fugitivecolors; a. condition notattainedwhere Ythe. dyed .andfcoloredvvorki .placediin open or tlargemesh .bags and .suhrjectedzto. over-Washing, as .in conventional .practice, but corrected :by this invention.. iItiis Yfor this reason that aycustomers.laundrylcontainingl colored swork in medium and fine. .mesh-.bags 2 andf3, or .compartments-..6 or .1,tcan;he. washed. in: the same washingv machine .andjn thesame. Water along A.with .white Work .-ini large imesh bag.: Ifor. compartment 5.`

'Instead of allottingr. a ...separate-lwashing, :ma: chineito :each .work class, such-:asgvvhitea light colors, and dark colors, etc., the'laundnymanzis nowrable .to washzseveral .or allsclassications of works-inthe samemaehine.l is an important feature because it :insures :capacity loads .in the machineiand saves -washingjngredients.; Hence, this .invention `,makes forieconomy ingthewvashingf liduidf and labor becauseone :machine -canbe used iforseveral orfall classes uitverk;

Furthermore, the 1invention has i been4 evolved tosit in with Ypresent day .standardsl of -classil cation andequipment in .order to alzal of -the knowledge .and experience.l oi 'operators in: azlaundry.-

This inventions presented toffllla need for -a useful laundry `.method andrbag. AIi-is-.understoody that. various :modifications in. construction, modeA of `operation zand use `or i method may and often do occur to those skilled ingthefari?, aespef;

cially .after benefiting trom .the f claimed gfeatures Y and .teachings of. aninventionsandihat this, disclosureisfdeseriptive of .theprinciplegbut notflimited 'to fthe. present showing.; oi the invention.

Whatfis claimedfis: .1; `A ,method of f washing soiled laundry Work,

which comprises; classifying-,itiinto several different laundry classes, in accordance with the color; and textile characteristics thereof, in rela. tion to the amount of washing requiredforeach class and yplacing the .diierent laundry-classes into vindividual net bags Whiclfiqare graduatedinmeshfsize, employing abaghaving maximum size mesh-.for the Llaundry class requiring-thermaximum Aamount of `Washing,landfemployirlg bags of, smaller size mesh forlaundry'classesreguiringa. lesslamount :of `Washing; therebyattaining agmaximumgvolume of Washing-liquid flow throughthe laundry .-requiringlmaximum washing, withza `re1- duced volumeof. :washing :liquid flowtthrough the; laundry requiring .less washing and :thereupon Washing.: simultaneously, ifor .an .equal .period of time, the; several :laundry classes .Within Atheir ref spectivel :bags :and in'. oneiand thegsamegwashine machineand :liquid l2: A method of washing soiled laundrywork., which comprises classifying it into seVera1;diferentezlaundry classes, -in.accordance `with the color f and :textile .characteristics thereof, :ingrela: tiomtoltheramount :of washing .frequired for .Leach class, pruvidinga series off-net'loags equalinsnum.- ber to fthe. numberzof laundry classes, and :placing the. differentilaundry classes intorindividual neti bass .ofzthe series landfvvhich4 lare.,graduated in;

mesnsize;placingthe laundry `class.requiring va,

maximum amount of Washing into,the;bag;haV'-- ingitheilargest lsize.emeshiandthelaundryclasses requiring a less amount of. Washinezinto-,the bags hailing the smaller-,sizesfof meshrthereby attainingA -,a maximum volume fof. Washingdiquid flow.; through .said laundry-requiring maximum washing, with .a proportionately reduced Washingsliq. uid lowfthroughthe. laundry requiring :less .vvaslsit ing; and,-Y thereupon: washing simultaneouslyefori an. equal period of vtime, 'the several. flaundry classes within their respective =hags aand `inroneAV and Athesame washingimachinennd.liquid;

employinga combination multieunit'laundry conf tainer ,comprising several. joined bags ...of mesh construction, the mesh vof .each bag-.beinggraduf ated downwardly Ain size; placing the laundry classi. requiring they most Washingainto. thefbag ,havingthe largestsize mesh,.while.-the.laundry classesrequiring less Washing are Vplaced intothebags having. smaller sizes of'mesh, andthereupon washing, simultaneously,- for anaequal period of time, the severallaundry classes in oneand the same. washing -machine and liquid; jthereby -re-A sulting in proportioning av larger vvaslling-liquid` iiovvto .and through theplaundry requiringthe most :Washing :and proportionately reducing the lowzthrough the otherlaundry to avoid;over;and.

under .washing ofthe separate classes,v andf'to. keepv the. vlaundry of a ',customer ftogetherein :one laundry container.

4; A bag means made of'ilexible 'material and including a mesh construction-varying-in size and forming a ,multiple-unit laundry container, cornprising several .individual lcompartmentsof graduated-mesh size, and-.ofequal depth, being held together .along their,- longitudinal side edges, .in substantially the sameplane, each vof the several compartments being adaptediztofreceive :classified soiledglaundryto be washedthe -meshsizeoffthe several compartments -loeing 'progressively graduatedfrom maximum'to minimumsize mesh-openfingS.. thereby prouortioningY the vrate of circulationand volume Vflow of washing-liquid through'. thefrespective compartments, Vthus adapting. the; laundry of each customer. to be classified-andplaced in accordance With'fits isoiled conditions.

and laundering requirements lWithirrthev respective Icongpfaift-mentsto undergo the lWashing-oper? ation -in .one fand -the same :Washing machine.Y and inthe same washing .liquid 'for Lan equalperiodof time,l and alsoA to keep the laulfldry of one customer Atogether rinone.` unit vcontainer lseparately .i frompther customersilaundryin otherunit oon-- tainers Within -thefsame Washing machine,

noe-ERT A. PHAiR. W]l.lLi[ ll\/I A; 'SCHNAKENBERQ VltEl'if-E-RENCES .CITED.

vrlhefollowing Vreferencesiare of record in `the le of-.th-is-patentt UNITED STATES -PATENTS s Number` Name lDate 1967,032' McCauley' Aug. 9, 1910- 1721184. Smith Mar. 21, 1876 2,015,119 lVlcEi/venfv Sept. 24, 1935 699,778 Upham May 13, '1902 v `592,057 Knight Oct. 19, 1897 .rlortnrcniPMI-Enns` Number Country.Y Date ,58,258 Norway Aug. ,9, .19.371

OTHER REFERENCES Keeps .Individual 'Washing System, Catalog'` by Laundryecurities andDevelopment cCorp.,Y

Chicago, 111. Feb. 26, 1935,. .150-1U`XRI Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,426,843. September 2, 1947.

ROBERT A. PHAIR ET AL.

It is hereby certied that errors appear in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 2, line 51, for both read bath; column 8, listof references, under United States Patents add the following- 2,132,734 Hart Oct. 11, 1933 and under Other References add- Troy Research, American Institute of Laundering Convention, Cleveland, Oct. 1941, Booklet LB-10-41, pgs. 5-8, Troy Laundry Machinery Division, East Moline, Ill.

Houghton, Evaluation of Detergente, Textile Colorist, Nov. 1942, pp. 519-521.

and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent OHce.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of December, A. D. 1947.

THOMAS. F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssioner of Patents. 

